Lynch visits Seacoast where 'Sandy' roads result after hurricane

HAMPTON — Touring the sand-covered landscape along Ocean Boulevard Tuesday afternoon, Gov. John Lynch met with authorities and beachgoers eager to view what Hurricane Sandy had left behind.

Having participated in a conference call with other governors from New England before arriving at Hampton Beach, Lynch considered the Granite State fairly lucky to not have seen destruction from the storm on a larger scale.

“We're very fortunate compared to what these states had to endure,” he said.

Still, thousands in the Granite State remained without power Tuesday and many roadways on the Seacoast were closed due to downed wires, trees and debris.

The aftermath of the storm locally was not the same devastation seen in many mid-Atlantic states, but debris cluttered every roadway Foster's traveled and flooded roads remained an issue for some Seacoast motorists. While water was still visible on many side streets, it was sand that washed over and remained along Ocean Boulevard Tuesday afternoon, making the roadway look like part of the beach itself.

Jude David, facility and events manager for the Seacoast Region of the state Department of Parks and Recreation, said the first thing crews were doing Tuesday, a mild day at the beach compared to just 24 hours earlier, was assessing any damage.

“We're putting together a game plan with all our mechanical resources,” she said.

David said authorities were monitoring and evaluating conditions and the storm's aftermath all night long as the hurricane subsided. She said it would take equipment like a front-loader and other apparatus available to the department to clean up the piles of sand caked onto the sidewalks and street.

“It's just a matter of time,” she said.

The newly constructed seashell stage fared well during the storm and was not flooded, even at the water's highest point.

“We're in good shape considering yesterday at high tide,” David said, and added they had been very fortunate that the seashell complex was not damaged.

“For what was predicted, we fared very well,” Hampton Police Chief Jamie Sullivan, who walked alongside Lynch through the sand, said.

Sullivan said clean up of debris and sand would be under way soon and reported that there were still many residents without power.

The areas at the beach which flooded normally were the same ones that became flooded from Hurricane Sandy, he said.

“We were very lucky compared to a lot of our neighbors to the south,” he said.

Along Route 1 in Rye, where dozens gathered in rain gear to watch Sandy's arrival on Monday, fewer spectators roamed, but those who did shed their heavy jackets and traded winter hats for sunglasses to watch the waves and a some surfers.

Many local schools were closed Tuesday, giving children an extra “beach day” for 2012.

Patrick and Sean Glennon, 12- and 11-years old, of Salem, were wandering through the sand checking out the beach with their day off from school. The boys and stepmother Sharon Mathieu were greeted by Lynch as he toured.

“We told him we came to check out the waves while our power is out,” Patrick said.

Mathieu said they used candles and flashlights Monday evening during a power outage and used Tuesday to “get the kids out of the house.”

“It's a good escape,” she said.

As large waves continued to crash and the sun peeked out during a far less windy afternoon, the telltale sign of the hurricane visit was still everywhere.

“'Sandy' could not have been a better name for the storm. It brought a lot of it,” she said.